Mayor Ferde struggled to read the papers in the dim light and was slightly shaken when HawkShadow handed him a candle and allowed him to light it. For some time the Sakovans were silent while the Mayor read the reports. Ferde occasionally emitted grunts of surprise or shook his head with disbelief. Finally, he laid the papers on the bed beside him.
“A fairy tale,” he concluded. “Even if these facts are correct, you are expecting me to believe that the First Minister would destroy his own country to gain his advancement. It doesn’t make sense. We found people murdered in those fields with Sakovan stars. How do you explain that?”
The night air sang as StarWind’s star flew across the room and imbedded in the post of the Mayor’s bed. “Look at a real Sakovan star,” she suggested. “You read the report describing the stars found on the bodies. All Sakovan stars have five points, and only five points, because they represent the Pentagon of Life for Sakovans. Our religion is based on the five Principles of Kaltara. Harac was not very efficient in his masquerade.”
Ferde pulled the star out of the bedpost and examined it. “Alright,” he conceded, “suppose I buy into the fact that the fire was not set by Sakovans. It is still hard to believe that Alazar would do this. He is the Katana now and I could not go against him if I wanted to. What is it you expect me to do?”
“I am not sure,” admitted StarWind. “We do not want war with Omunga and we know that you are one of the vocal voices calling for it. Alazar is only too happy to hear you shout for war. We need to remove Alazar from power because he will not stop until he gets his war, but we need to do so in such a fashion that the Omungan people are not offended. Our war is with Alazar only and not the Omungans. Do you understand?”
“It is obvious that you believe the facts you have presented to me,” agreed Ferde, “and so I believe your intentions. I will not take part in killing the Katana even if you are right though. I still must check out these facts before I am convinced of the truth of what you are presenting.”
“Understandable,” nodded StarWind although the Mayor could not see her. “I ask for nothing more than your honest investigation and a halt to calling for war with us until you are satisfied with the results.”
“You have presented a rather compelling case,” admitted the Mayor, “and at great risk to yourself. I will check it out thoroughly.”
“Excellent,” smiled StarWind. “I have heard that you are honest and will accept you at your word. The Sakovan people have given a gift to the people of Campanil to help alleviate their hunger in the coming winter. We have brought forty wagons of watula to Campanil to replace what you have lost in the fire. We hope it will serve your people well.”
“Forty wagons?” echoed Ferde with obvious surprise. “How? Where?” “How much?” he added with a frown.
“There is no cost,” laughed StarWind. “It is stored in the buildings of one of the farms that was burned. I suggest you keep its location secret until you can safely bring it into the city, otherwise people may riot when they learn of it. I have a personal gift for you as well. There is man named Klaarg who has worked for Alazar doing his dirty deeds. We have heard that he can be found in Gatong. If you were to have him arrested by troops loyal to you, I am sure that he can tell you much more about Alazar’s plot than I can.”
Silence fell over the room for a while as the Mayor digested the information StarWind had presented. Finally he nodded his head in satisfaction. “Very well,” he stated. “I accept the grain with great gratitude on behalf of the people of Campanil. I will cease my calls for war and discourage others from doing so while I investigate your claims. I will have this Klaarg arrested and interrogated as well. If your story bears out, I will do whatever I can to see that war does not come, but I will not raise a hand against the Katana.”
“If you find our story true,” pushed StarWind, “will you call for war if we truly do assassinate the current Katana? If the Omungans refuse to remove him from power, then we must, for he will not stop his plans short of our annihilation.”
The Mayor shook his head vigorously. “I do not want to know of your plans for assassination,” he scowled. “I love Omunga and therefore must support my Katana. Do not ask these things of me because I cannot give them.”
“I am not asking your permission,” corrected StarWind. “You and the rest of Omunga have been fed a lot of nonsense about what the Sakovans have done. If the Omungans refuse to act against Alazar though, we must, and that will lend credence to the lies already spread. Those who seek war will have a stronger voice then. I would prefer that you remove Alazar yourself after you are convinced of his deeds, but at least do not allow a war to come out of it if we must do it. This man has stolen your country.”
“I need time to think on this,” frowned Ferde. “First I must verify your story. I warn you, if it is false, expect me to lead the charge to war. If it is true, however, I will lead the charge towards peace. As for Alazar, I do not know. If he has assassinated the old Katana, then he deserves to die, whether he used Malafar or not. Give me time to dwell on this.”
“Fair enough,” conceded StarWind. “You can get word to me through the bulletins. If you will help quell the calls for war afterwards, run an advertisement asking for a translator. If no advertisement appears, I will know your answer. Now can you help get us out of here or must we sneak out as we came in?”
“I will get you out,” Ferde stated as he scribbled a note on a pad he picked up from his nightstand. “This will explain that you were guests here and that you are leaving early to travel to Okata. It will get you past the guards out front. I trust they are all still alive?”
“Yes,” sighed StarWind. “There is a man on the second floor locked in a storage room, but he has nothing more than a headache. I apologize for hitting him, but we did need to see you.”
Ferde nodded as he handed the note and star over his shoulder to HawkShadow. “I would like to meet you in person someday when this is all over,” he said pleasantly. “You believe in Sakova as I believe in Omunga and your courage has been shown. There might be much we can share.”
“Perhaps that will happen,” StarWind smiled. “Please lie face down while we leave.”
Chapter 36
Into Thin Air
The spoon spun around swiftly, gyrating like a top, as it cast reflections of brilliant sunlight around the field and across the buildings near the practice field.
“Too fast,” cautioned Temiker. “You do not need that much energy. You are shouting at it; try whispering.”
Lyra pressed her lips tightly together as she eased the energy flow to the metal spoon that spun on the table forty paces away. Slowly the spinning subsided.
“Good,” nodded Temiker. “Hold that energy level and move the spoon to the edge of the table. Remember, whisper.”
Lyra did not acknowledge her mage uncle as she complied with his instructions. Slowly and smoothly the spoon slid towards the nearer edge of the table and hung precipitously at the edge.
“Now,” Temiker continued, “call it home, but gently.”
Lyra nodded and the spoon fell off the table as she interrupted her concentration. Realizing that she had allowed her thoughts to sway from her task, she tried desperately to correct the situation and summoned the spoon to her as she stretched out her hand to catch it. Temiker dove at Lyra and pushed her to the ground as the spoon came flying towards her like an arrow.
Temiker rose and helped Lyra to her feet and began brushing the dust off his robe. “Much too much energy,” he sighed. “That spoon would go right through your body with that much force. You must learn to use just enough energy to accomplish the task and no more. You are far too powerful for your own good.”